Christopher Columbus Memorial, (sculpture).

Christopher Columbus Memorial, (sculpture).

Piai, Pietro, sculptor.

Genest & Markert, contractor.

Christopher Columbus Memorial, (sculpture).

Cast 1904. Dedicated Oct. 12, 1905.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze with green patina; Base: limestone.

Sculpture: approx. 34 x 30 x 18 in.; Base: approx. 14 ft. x 13 ft. x 12 ft. 3 in.

Pietro Piai New York 1904 (Incised on south face:) GL'ITALIANI D'AMERICA/ERESSERO/AUSPICE/LA FEDERAZIONE COLOMBIANA/DELLE SOCIETA ITALIANE NEGLI S.U./INIZIATRICE/LA LOGGIA FEDERATA C. COLOMBO/PUEBLO COLO./EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE/H. CHIARIGLIONE PRES./C.F. DELLIQUADRI SEC./M. PAGANO TREAS. L. D'AMATO/A. FUSCHINO/R. CARDILLO/N. PIZZUTI/A. QUARANTA/T. D'ISERNIA/D. VENUTO/G. CAPANNA/G. TUTTOILMONDO (Incised in script:) Pietro Piai Genest & Markert (Incised on lower base, south face:) UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE COLUMBIAN FEDERATION/THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED ON OCTOBER 12, 1905/BY THE ITALIANS OF AMERICA (Incised on pedestal, north face:) A/CRISTOFORO COLOMBO/IL XII OTTOBRE MCMV/AUGURANDO CHE PRIMO TRA I GLORIOSI/RICORDI IL MONDO IL GIORNO MEMORANDO. (Incised on lower base, north:) IN MEMORY OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS/WITH THE HOPE THAT THE GLORIOUS/DATE OF OCTOBER 12, 1492/MAY BE REMEMBERED IN THE WORLD signed

Bust of Christopher Columbus wears a three-cornered hat and vest-like clothing. It sits atop an ornate pedestal and tiered base. The two hemispheres of the Earth protrude from each side of the pedestal at the bottom; the western hemisphere is on the south side, and the eastern hemisphere is on the north side. There is a crest affixed to the front of the pedestal. The crest includes an eagle with outstretched wings perched on a shield with a cross, flanked by Italian and American flags. Below the shield are two joined hands, and the whole is enveloped in a semi-circular laurel wreath.

Portrait male -- Columbus, Christopher -- Bust

Occupation -- Other -- Explorer

Occupation -- Transportation -- Navigator

Ethnic -- Italian

Outdoor Sculpture -- Colorado -- Pueblo

Administered by City of Pueblo, Parks and Recreation Department, 800 Goodnight Avenue, Pueblo, Colorado 81005

Located 115 Abriendo Avenue, Mesa Junction, Pueblo, Colorado

Erected under the auspices of the Columbian Federation of Italian Societies and Federated Lodge of Christopher Columbus by the Italians of America. Colorado was the first state to make Columbus Day a legal holiday in 1905 and this is reportedly the first monument to Columbus erected in the United States. IAS files contain a related article from the Pueblo Star-Journal, Feb. 12, 1948.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, CO7001, 1989.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Colorado survey, 1995.

Monumental News, Nov. 1903, pg. 650.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

Control Number:

Horizon Information Portal 3.25_9382

Powered by SirsiDynix

About | © 2020 Smithsonian | Terms of Use | Privacy | Contact

SIRIS - Smithsonian Institution Research Information System